Storage pocket construction

ABSTRACT

A pocket with an open top includes an elastic cord with a movable center clasp for attachment to a retention stud on a side panel wherein the elastic cord tensions the clasp to retain the cord in position to hold an item in the pocket.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a utility application based upon provisional application Ser. No. 60/487,965 filed Jul. 17, 2003 entitled “Storage Pocket Construction” incorporated herewith by reference and for which priority is claimed.

BACKROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a construction for retaining packages within a storage pocket and, more particularly, to an elastic cord which in combination with a storage pocket, for example, a storage pocket attached to a tool belt or a backpack or luggage, serves to retain an item, e.g. package, within that pocket while at the same time providing ease of access to the item.

Luggage, backpacks, tool belts and similar items often include storage pockets which are open on their top side so that packages, etc. may be easily positioned therein. In order to retain a package within a pocket, it is often necessary to provide a cover flap or some other means such as straps to hold the package securely within the pocket or pouch. Access to the package within the pocket or pouch may thus be restricted. Consequently, a desirable characteristic associated with the means for retention of an item such as a package in a pocket or pouch is a further means to facilitate easy access to the package within the pocket or pouch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention comprises a retention device for maintaining an item in a pocket or pouch wherein the device is comprised of an elastic cord in the form of a partial loop which is attached at its opposite ends to a panel of the pouch and which includes a fastener slidably mounted on the elastic cord. Preferably, the fastener is in the form of a planar clasp element with a keyhole opening therein adapted to cooperate with a stud mounted on the outside panel of a pouch. The fastener element or clasp may then be fitted over the stud and the elastic cord attached to the fastener element will retain the fastener element tightly locked in position in combination with the stud. The elastic cord will also fit over a package or other item within the pouch serving to retain the package or item in the pouch yet providing access to the package or item.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a means for retaining items in a pocket or pouch.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a construction for use in combination with luggage, tool belts, backpacks and the like which may be utilized to retain an item in an open topped pocket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a retention mechanism to retain items within a pocket or pouch which is inexpensive, highly efficient and adaptable for use in combination with pouches of various size and configuration and for retention of packages within a pouch wherein the packages have various sizes and configurations.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the storage pocket construction of the invention wherein the pocket is supported on a belt;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the pocket construction of FIG. 1 depicting the manner by which elastic cord is positioned to hold a package or other item in the pocket; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view illustrating the clasp mechanism for attaching a fastening element to a stud associated with a pocket or pouch.

DESCRITION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the figures, the pocket construction of the present invention has utility, for example, with a fishing keel or other sport activity luggage pocket construction. Thus open top pockets may be incorporated in any luggage, backpack, tool belt, or the like. A pocket 10 may, for example, be maintained on a belt 12 by means of a loop 14 on a back panel 16 in FIG. 1 or incorporated on an outside panel 17 of a back pack or luggage item as in FIG. 2. The panel 16 or 17 may be manufactured from a rigid or semi-rigid material which, for example, is covered or retained within a sleeve formed from fabric material having a peripheral stitching or binding 18. The back panel 16 includes a top side or top edge 20, a first lateral side 22, a second lateral side 24 and a bottom edge or side 26. In a preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the back panel 16 is rectangular in shape. Belt loop 14 is arranged generally parallel to the top edge or side 20 and is positioned on the back side or against the outside of the panel 16.

The pocket construction further includes a generally rectangular bottom panel 28 which is affixed to and projects outwardly from the back panel 16. A circumferential lateral or side panel 30, which includes a first side wall 32, a second or front side wall 34, and an opposite, second side wall 36, forms a pocket enclosure in combination with the bottom panel 28 and the back panel 16. The side panel 30 may be formed from a mesh material or a fabric material, by way of example and not limitation. Preferably, the top of the pocket or pouch 10 is open for ease of access. A band 38 may be positioned about an upper peripheral edge 40 of the side panel 30. The peripheral edge 40 of the side panel 30, in the preferred embodiment, is arranged below the top edge 20 of the back panel 16. In the preferred embodiment, the upper edge 40 of the back panel 30 is aligned with the lower edge of the loop 14. The band 38 may include stiffening elements (not shown) which are sewn into the band 38.

Affixed to the band or ribbon 38 is a headed stud 42. The headed stud 42 is, in the preferred embodiment, arranged at the midpoint of the band or ribbon 38 midway between the side panels 32 and 36. Stud 42 includes a generally circular head 43 mounted on a post 45. Post 45 is fixed to the panel 30.

An elastic cord 44 is affixed to the back panel 16 and more particularly attached to a first connection point 46 at one end and a second connection point 48 at its opposite end. A slidable clip or clasp 50 is attached to the band 44 and may be moved slidably along the elastic band 44 between the ends 46 and 48. The clasp 50 includes a keyhole opening 52 which is sized to cooperatively engage the stud 42 on the front side 34 of the side panel 30. Slot 52 has an upper section 53 sized and shaped to receive head 43 and a lower section 55 sized and shaped to receive post 45. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the elastic cord 44 may be stretched over an item or a package 60 retained within the pocket 10 formed by the back panel 16 or 17 and side panel 30 along with the bottom panel 28. The elastic cord 44 may be stretched and maintained in a stretched and useful position to hold the package 60 by engaging the keyhole 52 of clasp 50 with the stud 42. The lower section 55 thus fits on post 45 and the head 43 retains clasp 50 in position. Elastic cord 44 maintains the clasp 50 tightly in position. A lower tab 57 of clasp 50 facilitates manual gripping to pull and release clasp 50 form stud 42.

Various benefits of the invention include the fact that the clasp 50 may be moved between the ends 44 and 46 to accommodate packages 60 of various size and shape. The pocket construction has utility with sportsmen inasmuch as it may be used to hold, for example, game which has been captured, or fish, caught and the like. It may also be used to collect materials gathered on nature hikes, camping trips, and the like.

Preferably, the clasp 50 is retained on cord 44. The parts may be reversed, however. Other variations and alternatives are limited only by the following claims and equivalents. 

1. A storage pocket construction comprising, in combination: a back panel having a width dimension, a height dimension, lateral sides, a top side and a bottom side; a bottom panel extending from the back panel, bottom side; a side panel extending from the lateral sides of the back panel and connected along a lower edge to the bottom panel to form a pocket enclosure with an open top; an elastic cord having first and second ends attached at an interval to the back panel, said cord including a first attachment member intermediate the ends compatible with a second attachment member on the side panel, whereby a package in the pocket may be retained by attaching the elastic cord attachment member to the pocket attachment member.
 2. The construction of claim 1 wherein the back panel further includes a loop adjacent the top side for receipt of a support belt.
 3. The construction of claim 1 wherein the elastic cord attachment member is adjustable in position along the length of the cord between the ends thereof.
 4. The construction of claim L wherein the cord attachment member comprises a clip member with a keyhole opening and the side panel attachment member comprises a compatible headed stud.
 5. The construction of claim 4 wherein the keyhole opening comprises a large upper section and a lower section smaller than the upper section, and said stud includes a head mounted on a post, said post attached to the side panel, said head sized to pass through the upper section, but not the lower section, said post sized to fit through the lower section, said elastic cord mounted to tension the cord attachment members lower section on the post.
 6. The construction of claim 5 wherein the attachment member is slidably mounted on the elastic cord.
 7. The construction of claim 1 wherein the attachment member is slidably mounted on the elastic cord. 